It is a myth that all models are anorexic: Jasmin Bir

Mumbai, Oct 16 (UNI) It is a myth that all models are anorexic or bulimic, said international model Jasmin Bir who is walking the ramp for the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week which is underway at the NCPA here in Mumbai.

In an exclusive chat with UNI, Jasmin, who has been born and brought up in Chicago, said, ''I do not diet at all, and I do not know of any model who does. I eat whatever I want like ice creams, cakes, pastries, chocolates and healthy food. Food is a huge part of life. But I also exercise five times a week as I run for a mile and do brisk walking for 45 minutes regularly. It is a lifestyle I have chosen.'' Jasmine busted the myth that models who walk the ramp and look like Barbie dolls have any kind of eating disorders. She said, ''This is a false statement to make. I do not know of any model who is anorexic or bulimic, all models here eat healthy and exercise regularly. We have regular breaks where we have normal breakfast, lunch and dinner. You cannot categorize people as many who are not models can also be anorexic.'' Jasmin, who has signed a one year contract with the prestigious Elite Model Management agency, has come to Mumbai for the first time for the Lakme Fashion Week even though she has many relatives in Punjab and in India.

She was all praises for Indian designers, as she said, ''Indian clothes are beautiful. I see a lot of Indian inspired clothes on the red carpet in America. Indian designers are talented in their own way, they are unique. I feel that every collection showcased here is applicable internationally.'' She added, ''When in the US, I used to gear about the Lakme Fashion Week from Indians, but today I am a part of it. Its been a great experience.'' Jasmine has walked the ramp in the past four days for designers like Abhishek Dutta, Anupama Dayal, Nitin Bal Chauhan, Vineet Bahl, Deepti Toor, Rahul&Firdos, Pria Kataria Puri, Nimita Rathod, Swapnil Shinde, Agnimitra Paul, Portico and Chaitanya Rao to name a few.

She is also going to walk the ramp during the grand finale tomorrow night for the Manish Malhotra collection.

She was all praises for designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee as she said, ''His clothes sell very well internationally and I see a market for Indian clothes in places like the Saks Fifth Avenue and other high end retail stores.'' Her idea of fashion is not a specific brand, ''I do not classify clothes, one should wear what speaks to them, express themselves by wearing what appeals to them, by what brings out their true personality,'' she revealed.

Jasmin, who does a lot of Runway and print work in the US for high fashion places like Neiman Marcus, Bloomindales, Nordstroms, also works for Shopbop, an online-based store.

She added that she has no one favorite designer as she thinks all of them have something special. After the fashion Week concludes, she will be traveling to Delhi and then she will fly back to the US.

UNI